Nami-no-Hana

You can download the photos of the tourist sites in Ishikawa used in this guidebook (with a few exceptions) from the website for the purpose of publicizing Ishikawa’ s tourist attractions.

September 2012

I n Ishikawa Prefecture, traditional Japanese culture is still very much a part

of daily life; it is a defining characteristic of the people who live there.

The origin of this strong culture dates back to the Edo period, when the Maeda

clan, who ruled the area, used their wealth to promote culture and education.

In particular, Kanazawa, which is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, flourished

as one of Japan's greatest castle towns. Fine arts such as tea ceremony, Noh play,

music and dance became very popular, and crafts of lacquerware, ceramic ware,

dyeing, gold leaf also developed as indispensable elements of interior decoration,

implements and clothing.

The love of culture has been passed down to this day, and people take classes

in cultural activities of daily life such as the tea ceremony and flower arranging,

as well as traditional performing arts such as Noh plays and Japanese music

and dance. There are still Chaya districts (former amusement areas) that have

retained their Edo-period atmosphere, and many old shrines and temples, which

fascinate visitors.

traditional culture that is still very much alive

TRADITION

A

Nishi Chaya Area (Kanazawa City) (map A2)

Kazuemachi Chaya Area (Kanazawa City) (map A3)

Japanese confectionary, an essential item for the tea ceremony

Ishikawa Noh Theater (Kanazawa City) (map A4)

Higashi Chaya Area (Kanazawa City) (map A1)

Geisha girl in a Chaya area

I shikawa Prefecture has not only preserved its traditional culture but the prefecture also has a progressive spirit

that is conducive to the introduction of new ideas. A friendly competition between the old and the new produces

a creative energy, fostering Ishikawa’s rich cultural landscape.

The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, which opened in 2004, is one example of this cultural

richness. The circular, glass-walled building that houses the museum can be said to be a work of art in itself, and its

collection of modern and contemporary works from both Japan and abroad attracts a great deal of attention. The

museum has been featured in magazines such as Newsweek and Beaux Arts.

In this "kingdom of traditional crafts", there is an increasing number of artists working with glass and other new

media. Also, along with traditional Japanese music such as koto, nagauta, subayashi and shamisen, Western music is

also very popular. In 2008, Kanazawa became the seventh city in the world to hold the La Folle Journée event, and

there is an annual jazz festival that attracts a huge audience.

flourishing contemporary cultureA

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (map B1)

Tsuzumi-mon (Kanazawa City) (map B2) Notojima Glass Art Museum (Nanao City) (map B3) Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa (Ishikawa Ongakudo Hall) (map B4)

MODERNIT Y

Commissioned work (21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa)1. The Man Who Measures the Clouds, Jan FABRE2. The Swimming Pool, Leandro ERLICH3. People’s Gallery 09.10.04-21.03.05, Michael LIN

1 2

3

utstanding craftsand foodOW ith 36 crafts that include lacquerware, ceramic

ware, dyed s i lk and metalwork, Ishikawa

Prefecture ranks with Kyoto as a Mecca of traditional crafts,

which are characterized by exquisite technique and a refined

sense of beauty. Made using techniques that have been

handed down through the generations, they also reflect the

needs and tastes of the age in which they are made, and thus

have been constantly evolving. Ishikawa has produced many

of the best artisans in Japan, and the prefecture has many art

galleries and museums that feature outstanding works.

Ishikawa Prefecture is also known as a "treasure-trove" of

food, as it offers an abundance of fresh, tasty ingredients of

all kinds. Elegant Japanese dishes served in Kutani ceramic

ware and Wajima lacquerware are truly a delight for both

the eyes and the palate. You are sure to take home wonderful

memories of the warm welcome you receive. Please enjoy the

authentic flavor of the carefully prepared dishes that Ishikawa

has to offer.

Kutaniyaki Art Museum (Kaga City) (map C1) Sushi

Ishikawa Prefectural Museum for Traditional Products and Crafts (Kanazawa City) (map C2)

Omicho Market (Kanazawa City)(map C3)

Kaga maki-e lacquerware decoration process

Japan's famous Wajima lacquerware

Traditional Kaga cuisine “Jibu-ni” (stewed duck with vegetables)

CRAFTS

I shikawa Prefecture has four distinct seasons.

In the spring, the cherry blossoms put on

a brilliant display, and Kanazawa Castle and

Kenrokuen area bustle with people who come to

admire these blossoms. The season of fresh greenery

follows after the cherry blossoms, and as the summer

heats up, the foliage turns a deeper green.

In the fall, the beautifully colored leaves start

appearing in the mountains and gradually advance

down the slopes. Bright gradations of red, orange and

yellow elicit sighs of admiration. Winter brings snow.

The fields, mountains and towns are covered with a

beautiful, peaceful blanket of white.

R efreshing seasonal beauty

Ishikawamon Gate, Kanazawa Castle (Kanazawa City) (map D1)

Garden of Natadera Temple (Komatsu City) (map D8)

Ishikawa Prefectural History Museum (Kanazawa City)(map D5)

Earthen walls and waterways in the samurai residence area (Kanazawa City) (map D4)

Kanazawa Castle Park (Kanazawa City) (map D3)

Sojiji Temple (Wajima City) (map D6)

Shirayama Hime Shrine (Hakusan City) (map D7)

Kenrokuen Garden, one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan (Kanazawa City) (map D2)

THE FOUR SEASONS

T wo of Ishikawa's most famous spring festivals are Seihaku-

sai Festival, which boasts of Japan's largest float, and Otabi

Festival, which features children's performances of kabuki plays

on gorgeous floats decorated with lacquer, gold leaf and carvings.

The Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival celebrates Maeda Toshiie's

taking over of Kanazawa Castle, and its highlight is a magnificent

samurai parade. The energetic Gojinjo Daiko masked drummers,

who perform to scare away demons, have been designated as an

intangible folk cultural asset by Ishikawa Prefecture.

F estivals that have been passed down through the generations

since ancient times are still celebrated as important events.

In the kiriko festival, which is unique to the Noto Peninsula, huge

kiriko lanterns are paraded around town to the sounds of vigorous

chanting. During the period from July to September, kiriko

festivals are held in more than 100 communities.

E xcitement and energy

A large float in Ushitsu Festival (Noto-cho) (map E1)

Otabi Festival (Komatsu City) (map E5)Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival (Kanazawa City) (map E4)Seihaku-sai Festival (Nanao City) (map E2) Gojinjo Daiko drumming performance (Wajima City) (map E3)

FESTIVALS

B ecause Ishikawa has a peninsula that juts out

into the Sea of Japan, it is a prefecture where

changes in nature in both seaside and mountain areas

can be enjoyed. Mount Hakusan, now a national

park, is one of the three most famous mountains

in Japan, and the place of origin of the Hakusan

religious faith. There are also quasi-national parks

along the coastlines of Kaga and Noto.

The mountainous area of Ishikawa Prefecture

is densely forested, and dotted with beautiful

waterfalls and gorges. The coastline also has amazing

attractions, which include unusually shaped rocks

and reefs that have been formed naturally over the

years, as well as the only beach in Japan on which

you can drive your car along the water's edge.

And last but not least, when you visit Ishikawa,

you will experience the lives and warmth of the

people who live in harmony with nature, in both

mountain and seaside villages.

T he art of nature

Mitsuke-jima Island, known as "Warship Island" (Suzu City) (map F1)

A Thousand Rice Paddies (Wajima City) (map F2)

Yase Cliff (Shika Town) (map F3)

Noto Kongo rock formation (Shika Town) (map F4)

Uba-ga-taki (Hakusan City) (map F5)

Koorogi bridge in Kakusen-kei Gorge (Kaga City) (map F7)

Mt. Hakusan shining in the sunset (map F6)

Mt. Hakusan seen from Shibayama Lagoon (Kaga City) (map F8)

NATURE

0 2 4 6 8 10(km)

KOMATSU I.C

HIMI I.C

HIMI KITA I.C

KATAYAMAZU I.C

KANAZAWA NISHI I.C

KAGA I.C

GOKAYAMA I.C

SHIRAKAWA-GO I.C

NANAO Sta.

KOMATSUSta.

MATTOSta.

WAKURAONSEN Sta.

KAGA ONSEN Sta.

HIMI Sta.

TAKAOKA Sta.

To Takaoka

To Katsuyama

To Eiheiji

To Fukui

To Awara

KahokugataLagoon

ShibayamaLagoon

OuchigataLagoon

R249

R249

R160

R159

NotoRailroad

JR Nanao Line

JR Hokuriku Line

R159

R471

R157

R416

R364

NotojimaAquarium

NotojimaGlass ArtMuseum

Seihaku-saiFestival

Noto Kongorock formation

Chirihama BeachDriveway

Wajima MorningMarket

Mt. Hakusan

A ThousandRice Paddies

Gojinjo Daikodrummingperformance

Ushitsu Festival

Wajima UrushiArt Museum

Wajima Furatto Homu

Sojiji Temple

Yase Cliff

Natadera Temple

Historic Villages of Shirakawago and Gokayama

Kakusen-keiGorge

KutaniyakiArt Museum

TraditionalHandicrafts Village"Yunokuni-no-mori"

OtabiFestival

Kaga Fruit Land

Oku-NotoSalt FarmVillage

Mitsuke-jimaIsland

Keta TaishaShrine

Rokkozaki“Lighthouse”

Sky Shishiku Ski Resort

Shirayama HimeShrine

Kanazawa Seymour Ski Resort

Hakusan Ichirino Hot Spring Ski Resort

YukidarumaSnowmanFestival

Uba-ga-takiWaterfall

NOTO AIRPORT

KOMATSU AIRPORT

To KANAZAWA CITYCENTER MAP

Noto Toll Road

Hokuriku Expressway

KANAZAWA Sta.

Tokai Hokuriku Expressway

HakusanSuper Forest Road

G2

G1

F2E3

B3

E1

F3

D6

F4

G3

E2

C1D8

G4

D7

F6

F5

F7

G8

G9

G10

F8

E5

F1

Ishikawa Prefecture is blessed with an abundance of hot springs, from large-scale resorts

to quaint small spas in the mountains, each with its own special attributes and ambiance.

Discovered mostly about 1,300 years ago, Ishikawa's hot springs are famous throughout

Japan for their historic significance and their healing qualities. So when visiting Ishikawa

for its many wonderful attributes and attractions, why not pamper yourself with a relaxing

stopover in a soothing spa?

6

7

8

0

9

10

11

13

14

15

16

17

18

193

4

5

12

12

Nakajima-OhashiBridge

Hikoso-OhashiBridge

Shoei-bashiBridge

KobashiBridge

Asanogawa River

Saigawa River

Tenjin-bashiiBridge

Mikage-ohashiBridge

Saigawa-ohashiBridge

Umeno-hashiBridge

Asanogawa-ohashiBridgeNakano-hashi Bridge

▼ To Kom

atsu/

Fukui

▼

To Route 8

To Daijoji Temple/

Maeda Family Cemetry

▼

To Yuwaku Hot Springs

▼

To Kanazawa University ▼

▼

To Prefectural Of fice

& Kanazawa Port

To Toy

ama

▼

▼ To Fu

kui

▼

To Kanaiwa

Kanazawa-nakaPolice Station

Great Peopleof KanazawaMemorial Museum

Korinbo

Sanjukken Nagaya Warehouse

Hishi-yagura Turret /Gojikken Nagaya Warehouse /Hashizume-mon Turret

OzakiShrine

Ishikawa ConfectionaryCulture Center

Ohi PotteryMuseum

IshikawaOngakudo Hall

HokutetsuAsanogawa LineKanazawa Sta.

. Kanazawa International Exchange Foundation. Ishikawa Foundation for International Exchange

KanazawaHyakubangaiShopping District

JR Kanazawa Sta.

Kanazawa Citizen’sArt Center

SakudaGold and SilverLeaf Shop

IshiuraShrine

Ishikawa Pref.Library

Honda Museum

Ishikawa Prefectural Museumfor Traditional Products and Crafts

KenrokuenInfomation Center Kaga Yuzen Traditional

Industrial Center

NishidaFamily GardenGyokusen-en

Local ProductsShop

IshikawaNoh Theater

Tsuzumi-mon

Seisonkaku Villa

KanazawaUniversity Hospital

Kanazawa City Hall

NagamachiPark

Nomura FamilySamurai House

NagamachiYuzen-kan Studio

Nagamachi SamuraiDistrict Rest House

Kanazawa ShiniseKinenkanMemorial Hall

CentralPark

Tamagawa Park

Ishikawa KanazawaTouristInfomation Center

Kanazawa CityTourism Association

IshikawamonGate

Higashi Chaya Area

Nishi Chaya Area

Kenrokuen Garden

MotenashiDome

Myoryuji Temple(Ninja Temple)

IshikawaModern JapaneseLiterature Museum Shiinoki

Cultural Complex,IshikawaPrefecture

Rifare Bld.

Ishikawa PrefecturalMuseum of Art

The 21st CenturyMuseum of

Contemporary Art,Kanazawa

. Ishikawa International Salon. Ishikawa International Lounge Ishikawa Prefectural

History Museum

KanazawaHyakumangokuFestival

KanazawaCastle Park

Omicho Market

Oyama Shrine

SamuraiResidence Area

KazuemachiChayaArea

B2

B4

C3

D3

D1

D2

C2

A4D5

D5

B1

D4 G7

A2

E4

A3

G6

A1

0 400200 1000(m)800600

KANAZAWA CITY CENTER MAP

Onsen (Hot Springs)

Legend

Shrine

Sightseeing spot

Public Facility

Taxi stand

City office

Police box

Shopping Area

Bus Stops

0 KanazawaStationEastExit3

1 Rifare-mae2 Meisei

Shogakkou-mae3 Kobashi4 BabaJidoKoen5 Moriyama1chome6 Hashiba–cho47 Hashiba–cho18 Kenrokumoto-machi9 Kenrokuen-shita10 Hirosaka11 Honda-machi12 Saisei

Bungakuhi-mae13 Jusangen-machi14 Kata-machi15 Korinbo716 Korinbo617 Minami-cho18 Musashigatsuji19 Rifare-mae0 KanazawaStation

EastExit

Kanazawa Loop BusOne time Adults: ¥200 Children: ¥100

One-day pass Adults: ¥500 Children: ¥250

Service Hours 8:36-18:00 (Every 12 min)

WajimaOnsen 0768-22-6588 http://www.wajimaonsen.com/

WakuraOnsen 0767-62-1555 http://www.wakura.or.jp/

YuwakuOnsen 076-235-1040 http://www.yuwaku.gr.jp/

TatsunokuchiOnsen 0761-55-8509 http://www.city.nomi.ishikawa.jp/

AwazuOnsen 0761-65-1834 http://www.awazuonsen.com/

KatayamazuOnsen 0761-74-1123 http://www.katayamazu-spa.or.jp/

YamashiroOnsen 0761-77-1144 http://www.yamashiro-spa.or.jp/

YamanakaOnsen 0761-78-0330 http://www.yamanaka-spa.or.jp/

By Plane

Komatsu-Seoul 1:40h

Komatsu-Shanghai 2:20h

Komatsu-Taipei 3:00h

Komatsu-Narita 1:10h

Komatsu-Tokyo(Haneda) 1:00h

Noto-Tokyo(Haneda) 1:00h

By Train

Kanazawa-Tokyo(viaEchigo-Yuzawa) 3:47h

Kanazawa-Tokyo(viaMaibara) 4:12h

Kanazawa-Osaka 2:30h

Kanazawa-Nagoya 2:27h

Kanazawa-KansaiInternational Airport 3:22h

By Bus

Kanazawa-Takayama 2:10h

Kanazawa-Shirakawago 1:15h

Getting to and from Ishikawa

Wajima Morning Market (map G2)

Notojima Aquarium (map G3 )

Oku-Noto Salt Farm Village (map G1)

Chirihama Beach Driveway (map G4)

KANAZAWA

Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art (map G5 )

Samurai Residence Area (map G7 )

Sakuda Gold and Silver Leaf Shop (map G6 )

Traditional Handicrafts Village "Yunokuni-no-mori" (map G8 )

Hakusan Ichirino Hot Spring Ski Resort (map G9 )

Yukidaruma Snowman Festival (map G10 )

Ishikawa

Japan

Nagoya

Osaka

Tokyo

NOTO

KAGA

Nami-no-Hana

You can download the photos of the tourist sites in Ishikawa used in this guidebook (with a few exceptions) from the website for the purpose of publicizing Ishikawa’ s tourist attractions.

September 2012